Strap-fastener.



No. 854,577. PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

' Y. D. RANGE.

STRAP FASTBNBR.

APPLICATION FILED DEU.1,1905.

@Houma and particularly to strap YOUNG D. HANCE, OF ADELINA, MARYLAND.

STRAP-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed December l, 1905. Serial No. 289,890.

.To @ZZ w/tom 7125 may concern:

Be it known that I, YOUNG D, HANcE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adelina, in the county of Calvert and State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Strap-Fasteners, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to strap fasteners, fasteners of the buckle type the object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive construction of clasp for securing a buckle and keeper loop to a harness strap, and one which is adapted to be fastened to the strap without the use of auxiliary securing devices, which will hold the buckle and retaining loop in proper relation for the reception of a connecting strap, which may be conveniently applied, and which may be used for attaching buckles to new harness or applying the same to the ends of broken harness straps in making repairs.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a strap connector embodying my invention applied to a harness strap, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of thesame, Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the clasp with the arms thereof extended. IIig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of fig. 2. f

The connector or fastener embodying my invention is stamped up from sheet metal in the form of a longitudinal strip, as shown in Fig. 3, the strip being bent upon itself approximately intermediate of its length to form a bight or fold l and upper and lower parallel arms 2 and 3,the upper arm 2 beingof greater length than its companion lower arm 3, the two arms being disposed in parallel relation and forming a clasp to receive the end of the strap 4 to which the buckle 5 is to be applied.

As shown, the bight portion l' is upwardly bent or curved and receives the connecting cross bar 6 of the buckle frame, and is slotted, as at 7, to receive the pivotal portion of the buckle tongue 8 and permit the latter to have free movement. This upward curvature of the fold 1 causes the buckle to be held at a proper elevation above the lower clasp arm 3 and provides a curved surface 9 at the forward end ofsaid arm, or a surface devoid of a straight edge, to prevent laceration of the animal.

The arms 2 and 3 are formed with inwardly extending spurs or prongs l0 projecting inwardly therefrom at an angle in a direction reverse to the direction of pull upon the strap 4 when the latter is in use and which are embedded therein to hold the inserted end of the strap firmly and securely in the clasp. The arm 2 is provided with an upwardly projecting or offset portion 11 similarly provided with spurs l2 and adapted to receive and accommodate the lower portion of a keeper loop 13 into which the end of the strap connected with the buckle 5 is inserted in the usual manner. The spurs 12 project into the said lower portion of the keeper loop and hold the same Afirmly and securely from shift* ing and incontact with the inserted end of the strap, thus adding additional pressure to hold the parts firmly connected.

It will be observed that the keeper loop 13 has its inner side a inserted between the strap and offset 1l and its outer side a arranged outside of said offset and spaced therefrom to form a passage for the reception and retention of the free end of the strap or a connecting strap. The offset is thus arranged to cover the part a of the keeper loop and to serve as a wear surface to protect said portion of the loop and prevent undue wear thereon from the frequent insertion and removal of the strap end connected with the buckle.

The spurs 10 and l2 are formed in practice by punching up portions of the metal strip, preferably by the action of suitable portions upon a die by which the connector as a whole is stamped up in a single operation.

In practice it will be understood that after the strap and keeper loop are inserted into position pressure is applied to the arms of the 1clasp to force the spurs into said strap and Iif will be observed that the sets of spurs upon the arms 2 and 3 of the clasp incline in a general direction toward the bight portion or at an angle in a direction reverse to the direction of pulling strain upon the strap, and that, measuring in the direction of extension of the spurs, said spurs are of less length than the distance between the arms, so that the points of said spurs are embedded in the strap and do not extend therethrough. It will also be observed that the spurs of one arm are disposed on lines between the spurs on the other arm, thus increasing the strength of the connection. By this arrangement of the spurs the strap is held firmly in position Without the necessity of extending the spurs IOO IIO

through the arms and clenching them against the outer faces thereof. Hence there is a material reduction in the number of projecting portions liable to be torn away or to tear the harness or lacerate the draft animal or hands of a personhandling the harness and connector.

The free end of the upper arm 2 is downwardly bent or curved and the free end of the arm 3 upwardly bent or curved, as respectively indicated at 15 and 16, to engage the opposite sides of the strap 4 and crimp or bend the same at the rear end of the clasp to insure a firmer connection and to also form smooth surfaces which will not chafe or otherwise injure the animal on which the harness is used. The side arm 3 is preferably formed with side retaining flanges 17 to engage the side edges of the strap 4 and prevent lateral or sidewise movement thereof, thus preventing any shifting motion of the inserted end of the strap and strain upon the spurs and keeper loop.

It will be seen that the construction described provides a connector clasp which may be securely attached to a harness strap without the use of auxiliary fastenings, and which, while simple in construction, will securely hold both the buckle and retaining loop in applied position7 and that the device may not only be employed for attaching buckles and loops to new harness but also for applying the same to the ends of broken harness straps, so that repairs may be quickly and conveniently made.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

The combination with a strap, of a fastening device comprising a strip of sheet metal folded to form a bight portion and parallel arms arranged to receive and clasp the end of the strap, and one of said arms being provided with an outwardly extending keeperretaining offset, a buckle held by the bight portion, a keeper loop having one of its sides inserted between the offset and the strap and its opposite side arranged outside of said offset, integral spurs upon the oifset engaging the inner side of the keeper loop, and spurs upon the arms of the fastener arranged to project in la general direction toward the bight portion thereof, said spurs being integrally formed upon said arms and having their free portions adapted to be embedded in the strap7 the spurs of one arm being disposed on lines between the spurs on the other arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

YOUNG D. HANCE.

Witnesses:

FLORENCE C. CnooK, C. C. HINES. 

